The Cat’s Meow (2001) starring Edward Herrmann, Cary Elwes, Kirsten Dunst, Eddie Izzard
The Cat’s Meow is the semi-true story of the Hollywood murder that occurred at a star-studded gathering aboard William Randolph Hearst’s yacht in 1924.
The Late Show (1977) starring Art Carney, Lily Tomlin, Bill Macy, Eugene Roche, Joanna Cassidy, John Considine
Semi-retired hard-boiled detective (Art Carney) is drawn back into action when his longtime partner is shot to death while searching for the kidnapped cat of a kooky Los Angeles woman (Lily Tomlin).
Dial M for Murder (1954), starring Ray Milland, Grace Kelly, Robert Cummings, by Alfred Hitchcock
Synopsis of Dial M for Murder
When playboy tennis pro Tony Wendice discovers his rich wife, Margot is having an affair with handsome American Mark Hallidy, he devises an ingenious plot to murder her. But when his scheme takes an unexpected, deadly twist, Tony improvises–implicating Margot for first degree murder in this classic spellbinder. Dial M for Murder
Lured(1947) starring Lucille Ball, George Sanders, Boris Karloff, Charles Coburn, Sir Cedric Hardwicke
Synopsis of Lured
A serial killer in London is murdering young women whom he meets through the personal columns of newspapers. He announces each of his murders to the police by sending them a cryptic poem. After a dancer disappears, the police enlist her American friend to answer advertisements in the personal columns and so lure the killer.
The Hound of the Baskervilles (1939) starring Basil Rathbone, Nigel Bruce, Richard Greene, Lionel Atwill
Product review of The Hound of the Baskervilles
The most famous of Sir Arthur Conan Doyles canon is The Hound of the Baskervilles. It was originally released by Twentieth Century-Fox in 1939. It’s the first of fourteen Sherlock Holmes films starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce.
Calling Dr. Death (1943), starring Lon Chaney Jr., J. Carrol Naish, Patricia Morison
Synopsis of Calling Dr. Death
Losing his memories for the last few days, neurologist Dr. Steele is told his wife has been brutally murdered. Aware of his wife’s infidelity he believes he may have been the killer and enlists the aid of his pretty nurse to hypnotize him.
House of Shadows, aka. La casa de las sombras (1976) starring Yvonne De Carlo, John Gavin, Leonor Manso
A young lady accidentally stumbles into an abandoned mansion and becomes a witness to a murder. A murder that happened 23 years before. First, it should be mentioned what this film is not it is not the more-famous House of Shadows with Peter Cushing. It also has no connection to the various Dark Shadows TV series or movies. It’s an Argentinian film; I watched the dubbed American version.
The Two Mrs. Carrolls (1947) starring Humphrey Bogart, Barbara Stanwyck
In The Two Mrs. Carrolls, Humphrey Bogart stars as a struggling artist, Geoffrey Carroll. He is (seemingly) happily married — until he meets Sally (Barbara Stanwyck). Apparently mentally ill, he returns home, where he paints a picture of his wife as the angel of death. Then he begins to poison her.
After her death, he romances and marries Sally, and all is well at first. Until he begins to fall out of love with her, and paints a portrait of her, as well … As the angel of death. Sally, however, begins to put pieces of the puzzle together, and realizes what her husband is trying to do. In the meanwhile, Geoffrey is being blackmailed by someone who’s found out about the first murder. And who finds out why it’s a fatal mistake to blackmail a mentally ill homicidal man.
The Thirteenth Chair (1929) starring Bela Lugosi, directed by Tod Browning
To enjoy The Thirteenth Chair, the audience has to bear in mind that this is a very early sound picture, and make appropriate allowances. If you do that, you can enjoy the murder mystery. And especially the sight of Bela Lugosi as the police Inspector Delzante. He berates and threatens the witnesses to a murder. Thirteen witnesses, at a seance, sitting in thirteen chairs — hence the title. It should be mentioned that The Thirteenth Chair is directed by Tod Browning (Dracula, Freaks). He brought Lugosi to worldwide fame only 2 years after this movie.